New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-12-30

IHL I'NI } iiE i'iI - an }.
Political events Of the past year have not
strengthened the Administration. \ debated
review Of these events j. unnecessary only the
larger current, + thought which they have set
in motion require attention. Incidents moi IN
thcm-oi ives largely important when they serve
n the spark TO powdcI-harcl, when they
kindlc popular feeling. crown grave suspicion
With certainty. or disclose plans and purpose,
previously masked. are often the determining
causes 81 tendencies far reaching and rcslstlcsS.
The Civil Service discussion. rs to the Prc>i-
dents plans and purposes. has come TO an end.
Scarcely a MugW imp can b" found VINO now
has the hardihood 10 attribute a genuine desire
for reform to the President who tolerated the
shameless activity Of oicl-ls IN the Baltimore
election who contributed money and wrote a
personal letter TO hcl2 the election 81 Colonel
Fellows. \ multitude Of events have com
bincd 90 deepen the impression that the Prosi-
dents pretended zcai for reform was sham,
designed to hoodank voters while he trans
formed tie public service into PARTISAN ma
chino. But "A few Incidents suffice to turn the
deepening impression into ii certainty. IarIy
because the President himself knew that he
could no longer expect any votes on the pre-
tcncc that he was a rclormcr he has startled
friends and delighted foes by his sudden and
bold disclosure Of free trade purposes. shrcwdly
remembering that those who talli most about
Civil service really care most about the tariff.
The far larger body OF citizens. who feel GEM
inc zeal for reform. viii have 40 more use for
Mr. Cleveland as a rcformcr
1t is noticed that less is said than was said
a year ago Of the financial administration and
its wisdom. RcvcIscs have come. and with
them doubts Pouring out more money has
not produced the effect Secretary Tawhlld
desired. Instead there is growing the doubt
whether gigantic spcculations have not been
stimulated by the Administrations policy, the
consequences Of which may be serious /, is
felt that the bond purchases proved failure,
and that deposits in banks have aided Spccull-
ton rather than industry. and now extreme
frcc-tradc recommendations have come 10
deepen diStrust regarding the financial wisdom
II the Administration. Men see that tariT
agitation inevitably dcprcSscs, and such agt;l-
ton, when 1t cannot end IN success. by an
Administration which is lnboring to build UP
confidence, is an obvious bundcr which saga
cious management would not commit.
No other single act prior to the last message,
has produced 50 deep an impression as the
order to surrender captured rebel flags. APP
pOintmcntS Of many rebel veterans. men con-
Spicuous only for their intense disloyaIty. have
produced some effect vctocS of pension bihS,
and the insults and SnccrS Of veto messages,
had produced more. But the return Of single
flag 10 Icbds who received it rs sacred and
glorious IIic-that tod how completely dcsl-
tUtc President Cleveland was Of sympathy
with the loyal cause. The very spirit Of the
man stood disclosed. He wOuld not have done
the thing if he had realized. lie did not realize.
only because rebel was just as good rs IA
Union man TO him, and the better for being
strong Democrat. Mr.. Cleveland made many
carefully crammcd speeches on his Western
and Southern tour, and has written "A great
many letters and addresses for popular effect,
but all Of them together have not influenced
Il tenth Of the votes that his signature TO one
brief order Will sway.
The recent message came in time TO clear
away all fog Of false prctcncc about the Prcsi-
dents belief and aims as 10 the tariff In il
all the world read the extreme opinions and
bigotcd prcjudIccS Of an old-fashloncd Free
Trader who had learned nothing from tho
industrial development Of the past twenty five
years. who knew nothing Of industrial condi-
tons or facts, and whose mind was filed with
The theories Of the British and Southern pan
Llion school. 1t makes no sort of difference
now what notifications the President may
attempt TO make. The concessions viii DO